Bathtubs
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Bathtubs
Nov 2011
The bathtub in my recently purchased house has adhesive
no-slip strips that a previous owners laid down. They are
black and horrible and I have tried everything I have to
remove them-this includes vigorous scrubbing with Comet,
Goof-Off, Goo Gone, and an ammonia/cleanser scrub.
Bleaching doesn't clean them up either and I don't want to
scrape with a razor blade or pumice because I'm afraid I'll
destroy the porcelain.
Does anyone know a product or technique I could use to
remove the strips?
Thanks!
new homeowner
Yes, I've been there, bath stickers that were 20+ years old.
What is that superadhesive???? I had to use a razor blade
to scrape all of them off. It did not scratch the
porcelein. Just took a lot of time. And then it looked
Fabulous! Chemicals didn't work
Dec 2010
We just bought a house in Berkeley (who would have thought!)
and are working with a contractor on a few projects,
including replacing some windows and adding a bathtub to the
bathroom. I'm looking for some recommendations for where to
buy a few things in the area, as I haven't come up with much
from Yelp or Google. We need: A cast iron bathtub, about 6
feet long and 33 inches wide. Most of those ones I've seen
are very expensive- it doesn't need to have jets or anything
fancy, just hold a decent amount of soaking water.
The house was built in the 1920s and we would like to stay
true to the aesthetic, although our budget is limited.
Thanks for any ideas or recommendations! clueless about
home renovation
Urban Ore in Berkeley has all kinds of stuff like that. I
bought an old sink and faucet there for an outdoor potting
bench.
--Reuser
A real vintage claw foot tub is probably going to be hard to
find. When I was looking, I saw one at Urban Ore but it was
gone the next day when I went back to give it a second look.
I went with a replica claw foot tub. The benefits? It's
lighter (400lbs compared to 1/2 ton) and doesn't require
extra support in your floor. I got mine from
vintagetub.com. Shipping was free but they did get the
fixtures I ordered wrong, so stay on top of that and inspect
upon receipt.
Good luck!
experienced DIY remodeler
I suggest you check out the salvage yards, Ohmega Salvage,
Ohmega two, and Urban Ore. Also if you are clueless about
home renovation, go to the Building Education Center for
classes that are geared toward homeowners and amateurs who
wish to learn this stuff.
Good Luck!
Andus
Urban Ore off Ashby near San Pablo in Berkeley
always has a few cast iron bathtubs (they might
need refurbishing though). Ohmega Salvage on San Pablo
between University and Ashby always has a GREAT selection of
cast iron bathtubs in different styles, refurbished and not
refurbished ones, and they also have someone on site who
does the refurbishing in case you favorite tub is still in
its original condition. Good Luck!
I bought a beautiful antique tub a few
years ago at Omega Salvage on San Pablo. Omega Too nearby
also has a few reproductions. Be aware of three things when
buying an old tub:
1) cast iron tubs are EXPENSIVE whether
new or old. My 80-y-o tub in near-pristine condition cost
$2K. At the time, new cast iron tubs were as much or more. A
new tub that is not cast iron will be cheaper. If you have
your heart set on a clawfoot, check Sunrise Specialty for
reproductions. I got a pedestal sink from them that I like.
2) Old tubs that are affordable often have chipped or
stained porcelain - can you live with that? If not are you
OK having the surface redone or painted over?
3) Old cast iron tubs may leach lead into the bathwater.
This is only a problem if the person in the tub is going to
be drinking the water. But you may want to test an old tub
for lead.
Ginger
June 2008
We are doing a bathroom remodel and are considering a claw-foot
tub. I am concerned about cleaning issues, is it hard to clean
the floor underneath? does mold end up growing on the side of the
tub near the wall? are there tricks I'm not aware of, other
concerns I haven't thought of or reasons why people love/hate
them?
your input is greatly appreciated
thanks
I LOVE my claw foot tub. I bought it online through vintage tubs.com. Be sure that
you get the appropriate fixtures...there are a few different kinds, like rim vs.
wall mount. If you love to soak, you can't go wrong. I have a slightly longer
than std (5.5' vs 5') and it's perfect to stretch out in. Just be sure you don't
place it directly against the wall, you need a couple inches for the shower
curtain. There's plenty of clearance underneath to clean.
love my tub!
I have an old-fashioned claw foot tub. I've always loved the look, shape and the
depth of claw foot tubs, especially for a relaxing bath. Cleaning underneath isn't
that difficult, and if you keep the water in the tub, you shouldn't have any more
mold problems than you would with another kind of tub.
They're not the greatest for showering since you need an all-around shower curtain
and it's hard to keep the water from escaping -- but if you have a shower either
separate or in a second bathroom, it gives you better options.
Also, if you are planning to become pregnant or if you plan to have elderly
visitors (or spend your own golden years in this house), you will need to take a
few extra safety precautions to avoid falls. The difference is because of two
things: the claw foot tub is higher off the ground than a regular tub, and the
bottom has rounded sides and a smaller flat area. When I became pregnant my
husband (who in my mind wears a red cape emblazoned with a gold ''safety man''
logo), instantly bought a non-slip tub mat and then went to Johnson Medical on
Shattuck and bought a stainless steel step stool that has a grab-bar handle. All
so I wouldn't slip getting in and out of the claw foot tub. Also, he has flat feet
and says that this also impairs stability in this tub.
We're remodeling too. I want to keep at least one claw foot in the house, he'd
rather not.
L
I have a claw foot (in my house already when I bought it), and I don't like it.
Sure, it's cute and quaint in my bee-boarded bathroom, but it takes up a lot of
real estate in my bathroom, and is far less functional than a regular walled-off
tub. Yes, it gets dirty underneath and the wall behind molds easily. When using the
tub as a shower, I find that my footing/balance is compromised by the curved
bottom. Also, you have to hang a curtain on all sides. I dislike this for a number
of reasons: (1) The narrowness of the tub combined with the air currents make the
curtains waft against my body while I shower--yuck. (2) Since I can't close off the
tub well (as I can with a single curtained side, or a tub door), it's drafty in the
tub and therefore hard to shave my legs (I get goosebumps easily). (3) Hard to find
a place to put stuff like shampoo and soap.
Stop touching me, darn curtain!
YES. To everything you asked. It is hard to clean under & behind and so, mold does
grow. I have to get on my belly to reach back there and I have a house full of
little boys here. I am sorry I wanted the claw foot so much. If I had a do-over, I
would pick a porcelin tub that goes down to the floor, a tile backed 3 wall
enclosure .... I need 5 (!) shower curtins to surround our claw foot tub & that is
too much curtin around, especially as we usually use it as a shower... I wanted the
claw foot shape for the toy storage space under it and thought the ''space'' would
be good...visually it is! But I don't have a maid and....the spiders really get
established....maybe you won't be as negligent as we are? It could be great if you
are only taking canlelit baths and someone else cleans it...
dirty grout too...
I lived in a small house with a small bathroom that had a claw foot tub and since
the tub was surrounded on three sides by walls, it was really hard to clean under
or behind. When you add the inevitable water that gets out of the tub (or even
just moisture in the air) to the dust/hair etc., it gets gross fast. The only way
I'd want a claw foot tub is if I had enough room to put one in the middle of a huge
room with nothing around it (like you see in home magazines sometimes)...but who
has that kind of space?
Jenny
We have a claw-foot tub, and we're getting rid of it in an
upcoming remodel. When we first moved in, I liked the idea of
the claw-foot tub. Four years later I hate the thing. It's hard
to clean underneath it and the wall behind the showerhead
always ends up getting wet so the paint is peeling. And the
floor is probably messed up besides.
anon
We re-installed our existing clawfoot tub when we remodeled.
Besides preserving the original fabric of the house, I confess
that I love this tub.
Absolutely no mold issues on the outside of the tub but remember
it has to be a couple of inches away from the wall anyway --you
need to be able to curl your fingers over the edge. No cleaning
issues for me, but I'm not too fussy. A hand-held shower makes
doing the inside much easier. I swiffer under it, and
occasionally damp mop with the old-fashioned rag-head mop. (I
also have a teen daughter who is willing to really get in there
and sweep it out a couple of times a year.) If you plan to add a
shower over it, be sure that you buy washable shower curtains or
curtain liners --you have to throw these 'shower walls' in the
wash machine once a month or so or they will mildew. I think its
a good trade-off for scrubbing tiles, though.
I should mention that while I was finishing up the remodel I met
an older lady in the fixture store. She had grown up with a claw
foot and was appalled that I would actually reinstall one. It
was her job to keep the bath clean and she loathed the thing.
Also, obviously a full-size cast iron clawfoot is extremely
heavy. My plumber said he would have charged $1000 extra for
putting in the tub if it had not already been in the house and on
the second floor, because they are so hard to negotiate up stairs
and around corners. And it takes a lot of HOT water for a
satisfying bath (all that metal has to be warmed up) but I'm
worth it (occasionally, at least!).
Victorian Woman
May 2008
HELP! Being new to coloring my hair, I accidentally left a hair
clip that still had a bit of semi-permanent hair coloring on it
on the side of my bath tub and it's left a pretty bad stain.
Anyone know of a way to get this out?
Thanks.
feeling stupid
Try Soft Scrub -- I think the bleach in it does the trick.
Apply and let it sit before rinsing. Might take a couple
applications.
Another home colorist
I usually use a pumice stick on porcelain. It can safely remove
stubborn stains in many cases. They're available in most hardware
stores.
Erich
June 2004
We plan to remodel our bathroom and would like to replace our standard
tub with a deeper tub. Ours is the shallowest tub I've ever used - can't
get the depth over 5''! We don't need a jacuzzi tub, nothing fancy, just a
tub deep enough for a nice soak. Any ideas about where to find a tub
like this? Thanks.
tired of shivering in the tub!
We recently remodeled our bathroom and installed a ''Jason''
(non-jetted) soaking tub. We love it. It is 72'' long by 42''
wide by 23'' deep. My husband and I can bathe together
comfortably in it (he is 6'2'' and I am 5'10''). We ordered
the tub through ''REED's'' appliance store on Fruitvale Ave.
You can look their number up online or in the phone book. I
think we paid less than $700.00 for it. There are also lots
of choices at www.homeclick.com and www.toohome.com if money
is not an issue. Here's to a good soak!
Kristi
To Deep Bathtub,
I searched long & hard for such a tub. Try ''Tea for Two''
by Kohler.
Good luck.
mebldwn
Deep Bathtub
We put in a deep tub when we remodeled last year. It is a
spa tub, but was also sold without the spa. So it has the
deep shape without the holes and bubbles. I recommend you
visit Jack London Square Bath Gallery in Oakland. Lainie
Wachter helped us and found our wonderful tub.
Happily Soaking
When we remodeled our bathroom about 10 years ago, we had
the same desire--a nice deep bathtub that would fit in the
standard amount of space a bathtub normally does. We
ended up with a Kohler that's worked out great.
Unfortunately, I can't give you a model number, but I can
tell you that it's about 2 feet deep. Our contractor
picked it up for us, so I'm not sure where it came from,
but I remember looking at it in a Kohler catalog at the
time. One warning: because the tub is so deep and still
has slightly slanted sides the base of the tub seemed
narrow to us when we first got it. So, when you take a
shower in that tub, you don't have the foot room you would
in a shallower one. We've never found it to be an issue,
but it's still something to keep in mind.
Patty
I don;t know if it would fit in with your remodel plan,
but when we remodeled the bath in our 1912 house a few years ago, we
bought an antique tub at Omega Salvage. It is the best tub
ever! It's 6 feet long, with a lovely sloped back, sits
on a pedestal instead of legs, and you can submerge yourself
completely under the water. They also had some new
reproduction tubs, also deep. Check out some of the reproduction
places on the web - Sunrise Specialty is one.
G.
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